In space, no one can hear Ridley Scott celebrate his birthday, appear in a new Alien: Covenant set photo, and presumably receive phone calls from friends and colleagues congratulating him on being chosen to receive the Directors Guild of America Lifetime Achievement Award. But this is the internet, so we can hear all of the relevant details in one brisk movie news post.

First of all: happy birthday to Sir Ridley Scott, who turns 78 years old today. He’s currently in post-production on his 24th feature film while serving as a producer on 17 additional film and television projects in various stages of production. I am far less than half his age and I’m writing this sentence from my bed because going to my desk sounds like a lot of effort. He is a beast and I tip my hat in his general direction.

To celebrate his birthday, 20th Century Fox has released a new image from the set of Alien: Covenant, which finds Scott standing in the middle of one of the most famous sets in movie history. As expected, the “space jockey” (or at least its chair) will return in Alien: Covenant after its origins were revealed in Prometheus. Of course, where this strange alien artifact goes, blood and guts and screaming tend to follow.

The other big news for Scott involves him being the latest recipient of the DGA Lifetime Achievement Award for Distinguished Achievement in Motion Picture Direction. DGA President Paris Barclay supplied this statement:

Masterful in any genre, Ridley’s groundbreaking methods and peerless directing instincts have brought to life some of the most memorable films of our time, capturing the resilience of the human spirit and captivating the hearts and minds of audiences around the world. Stunning visuals, immersive worlds and powerful performances underpin his diverse body of work which ranges from Alien, Blade Runner and Thelma & Louise to Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, and, most recently, The Martian. Over the course of four decades, his trailblazing career has demonstrated the impact and importance of the director’s singular vision. For these reasons, and so many more, we are honored to present the Lifetime Achievement Award in feature film to Ridley Scott.

Scott has made great movies (Alien! Blade Runner! The Martian!) and he’s made not-so-great movies (Legend! Robin Hood! A Good Year!), but he’s always been one of our most ambitious studio filmmakers, bringing technical precision and attention to detail to each and every one of his movies. This is a well-deserved honor.